Development of Fuel Briquette from Palm Oil Mill Waste Mixed with Other Biomass Fuels

Palm oil is extracted from the fresh fruit bunch (FFB) by using mechanical process, where a mill commonly handles 60 to 100 mt per hour of FFB. The modern palm oil mill is based on concepts developed in the early 50’s. An average size of FFB weights is about 20-30 kg and contains about 1000-2000 fruits. They are harvested based on harvesting cycles, and delivered to the mills on the same day. The proper handling of FFB will determine the quality of crude palm oil.
The products generates from palm oil mill are crude palm oil and kernels, as primary product and biomass as secondary product. A typical mill has many operation units. This comprises of sterilization, stripping, digestion and pressing, clarification, purification, drying and storage. Palm oil industry generates vast amount of palm biomass. Converting palm biomass into a solid fuel through briquetting process should be attractive in upgrading its properties and add value. The major by products produced by the production of crude palm oil (CPO) are palm oil mill effluent (POME), empty fruit branch (EFB), palm kernel shell and mesocarp fibre. Mostly, this biomass, especially EFB, palm kernel shell and mesocarp fibres are utilized as fuel in the mill [1].
Realizing the potential of EFB to generate fuel, briquettes will produced by mixing the EFB with rice husk and coconut shell. Their physical and chemical properties, mechanical strength and burning characteristics will be analysed. In this research, the author will study the characteristics of these biomasses and their potential to yield biomass energy [1].